Ex-Nurse Was Screened, Center Officials Say

Saturday

Sep 29, 2007 at 2:38 AMSep 29, 2007 at 7:12 AM

Heart of Florida Regional Medical Center officials said Friday they did all the required screening and background investigations before hiring Kevin R. Laing as a nurse, but nothing showed up about a previous arrest for sexual assault.

On Monday, Haines City police arrested and charged Laing, 46, of 2922 Parkland Court, Winter Park, with two counts of sexual battery and one count of an unnatural and lascivious act involving a female patient.

Laing is a registered nurse and had been working for the medical center for several months.

Haines City and Winter Park police began their investigation Sept. 19 when a Heart of Florida patient reported Laing, police said.

Laing remained in Polk County Jail on Friday in lieu of $150,000 bail.

Officials said Laing is no longer employed at the medical center.

"The information collected during the (screening) process revealed absolutely no indication of any adverse history or propensities," a medical center release said.

Laing worked at several other hospitals in Central Florida and had been arrested in June on sexual assault charges by the Ocoee Police Department.

Ocoee police also investigated similar claims against Laing in 2006 while he was employed at Health Central Hospital.

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